SMEDAN Empowers Over 116,000 Entrepreneurs, Creates 90,000+ Jobs in Q1 2025

The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) says it facilitated the creation of 90,160 new jobs and empowered 116,661 entrepreneurs across the country in the first quarter (Q1) of 2025.

This was revealed in Abuja by the Director-General of SMEDAN, Mr. Charles Odii, who stated that the results were detailed in the agency’s Q1 performance report.

Odii credited the achievements to SMEDAN’s targeted empowerment initiatives and strategic collaborations with key public and private sector players, including Google, Wema Bank, and members of the National Assembly. These partnerships helped train entrepreneurs in digital and financial literacy while also improving access to finance, markets, and essential business tools.

He noted that thousands of small businesses were formalised through assistance with registration via the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), positioning them for better access to funding and supply chain participation.

“In Q1 alone, we distributed 123,743 work tools—including laptops, mini-buses, industrial sewing machines, generators, and tricycles—to entrepreneurs in all 36 states,” Odii stated.

He also highlighted the successful operation of the SMEDAN Garment and Textile Hub at the Idu Industrial Development Centre in Abuja. Powered by solar energy through a partnership with the UNDP, the hub offers fashion entrepreneurs affordable access to industrial equipment and stable power, boosting productivity and job creation.

Odii reiterated the agency’s commitment to its “GROW Nigerian” strategy—focused on Guidance, Resources, Opportunities, and Workforce support—designed to strengthen SMEs and unlock value in local communities.

“These efforts are directly aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda,” he added, emphasizing SMEDAN’s role in driving inclusive economic growth through support for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

He concluded by noting that several strategic partnerships formed during the quarter would begin delivering results in financing and value chain development in the coming months.